So I was given an unofficial assignment, and given three days to complete it. A friend of mine, wanting to test my ability to write anything, even that that gives me pain, told me to write a fanfic for her. Starring herself and her idol, Harry Styles.You all know him as "dat ghey boi from One Direction"Or you don't know him at all.Nevertheless, I reveal to you my pride and shame.

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I feel as if my career is coming to a close; what with them saying this is our last concert in America. What? No, it won’t be our last. Of course, we only made it here because Big Time Rush decided to include us in their joint tour. Yes, One Direction isn’t as famous as the rest of the American boy bands in their homeland. My career just started! I’m really thankful for Uncle Simon, and I can’t let him, or any of my band mates, down. This is the end of the tour, but there’s more to come. Let’s go, New York City!I looked upon an American crowd, most likely for the last time this year, and introduced myself, as well as the rest of the boys. “It’s been a great tour, and sadly, it has to stop here.” Louis said. Quickly, I added, “But don’t worry, guys, because we’ll be back real soon!” and winked to the crowd, in which the response was a roll of loud screams. It seems… One person in the audience stood out.She didn’t have a particularly loud scream or anything, nor did she yell any less than the other fans, she just stood out, like an invisible spotlight was shown on her that only I could see. I couldn’t see much of her; she was a bit taller than the others, with long, beautiful, dark hair that shone in the reflection of the stage lights. There was a bit of familiarity to her, I’ve met her before, more than once. I continued to observe her stature. Thankfully, when I looked at her breasts, she had a backstage pass, so I’d see her later. Thank god. I needed to pay attention to my wording. I want this to be over with soon. I want to see her. “I want~ I want~ I want~ To be loved by you~” I stared directly in her eyes as we sang. All the girls there screamed louder, but she just had a dumbfounded look on her face, as if she knew I was singing to her. I was, actually. This stranger, this girl who has captured my heart… I want her. I want her body, I want her love. I want to take her. After our part was done, the five of us headed backstage, where we were greeted by 20-or so- fans, all teenage girls and those who accompanied her. She looked at me and flashed an adorable smile. As she was still in line, waiting for security to check her ID and pass, some guy escorted us further backstage to sign some autographs. After a few people, I saw her again. Oh god, I don’t even know her name and I’m obsessing over her. She smiled at me, just as before. The butterflies swirled in my stomach. But then, she went to Zayn. Was I mistaken? Did she have her eyes on Zayn the entire time? “Hello there, what’s your name?” He said, ever so confidently, just as he did with the rest of the fans. “Actually,” She started out. A sense of relief filled me, but I listened further, just to make sure. She continued with, “Can you make it out to ‘Kate’? With much love from Zayn, of course. She’s my best friend, and couldn’t make it today.” I relaxed and listened to her voice. It was addicting. Were American accents always this attractive? I’m sure they weren’t. She started to go in my direction. Her voice was a bit more nervous this time. “H-Hi Harry, can you please sign this?” She then brought out an old mix CD. Curious, I asked, “What is that?” as curiously as I could. Her answer somewhat surprised me. “It’s uh… It’s your singing.. From White Eskimo..and some other songs before One Direction..” What? She has my songs from my high school days? Damn, I had to get a hold of these. I also wanted to get to know her… I signed, “Entrance of Venetian hotel, 10pm” then my name. She looked at me and nodded. As she was walking away, she turned back and said, “OH WAIT. My name’s Celina!” and waved. Celina… I can’t wait to see you tonight. In the limousine on our way back to the hotel, I undressed quickly. It was so hot in there! I didn’t know if it was because meeting such an amazing girl made me all heated or because of the heat of our last concert. God, the breeze felt nice. Then Louis scolded me, so I slapped him round the head with my penis. That happens often, and it’s very time-consuming. We were almost at the hotel, and it was 9:50. I couldn’t go out in public, not right after a concert.. So instead, I threw on several pieces of clothing, a hat, and shady sunglasses. I looked like I was going to mug someone, but whatever. No one would recognize me. She was already there, Celina, and thank god she was. She wasn’t in her concert wear, but she was wearing a sophisticated-looking trench coat, and this time, glasses. The glasses made her look so different, yet all the same attractiveness. Right when we parked, I ran out of the limo and tripped up a bit, but kept my balance. I made myself look like a fool in front of her! She didn’t recognise me yet, but I still tried to reveal myself. “Hello there, young miss.” I wanted to tease her a bit, to see where it goes. “Care to come in with me, to my room?” Her eyes turned to surprise, then softened. “Sure, but why?” The reaction was a bit unsettling, but her words went just as I expected. I whispered in her ear, grinning widely to myself. “To see my etchings, of course~” . Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. I got her. “H-Harry, what..?..” She stuttered. What? WHAT. I should be asking her what! She knew! I stepped back in shock, then facepalmed myself. I failed. She giggled softly. That brought my mood back up, her laugh is so warm, it touched me. She took my scarf off, then my hat and glasses and led me inside. “So, what did you really need me for?” She questioned. I laughed nervously, then apologised. “Sorry Celina, uhm… I wanted to borrow that CD. Can I copy it? I miss my boys.” She hesitated for a minute, or was she thinking? Either way, she’s agreed to it. “I have my laptop with me, but I don’t know how to burn it. Do you?” I didn’t, actually. It’s never occurred to me. Maybe the guys know how? No, wait, Uncle Simon! “I don’t, but I’m sure Simon does, let’s ask him.” I replied proudly. “Is it okay?! To just meet him like that!?” That was cute as hell. I poked her nose and called her weird. Adorable as buggery. We went to her hotel room, which was insanely clean, unlike ours. I looked around, and saw that there were two beds, and two towels out. “Celina, are you here with someone?” “Oh, yeah, I’m here with a friend from back in California.” “Oh, you’re from California? Did you see my concert there?” “Harry, I don’t mean to sound obsessive, but I’ve been going to all your concerts since then, haha.” Celina, I’m really glad you’re dedicated to me enough to do that. I shouldn’t say anything, but honestly, knowing that you’ve supported me that much makes me really happy. “Really? Oh, you looked really familiar, no wonder. How come you’ve only gotten a backstage pass for this one?” “I wanted to wish you a nice farewell, that wouldn’t be so special if I met you right off the bat!” Everything she says makes me fall more in love with her. “Oh, haha thank you for that, Celina.” We sat down at the bed, and got her computer out. I kissed her cheek softly, in which she responded with a blush. Cute… “I need to tell you something, Celina. I know this is really sudden, and weird of me, but I really like you.” “Can we continue this after today? Can we still be together? I want to know you, Celina. So let me ask you this, and feel free to decline, but would you like to come back to Cheshire with me? Please?

Justin Burgess English IV The Brave New World, a novel by Aldous Huxley, shares an intriguing view into a new world, riddled with clone babies and soma. Bernard, the main character, is subject to the ways of the world. He, socially awkward, takes Lenina, a local woman, to a reservation. Once there they meet a savage for whom, with Mustaffa Mands’, the world controller, permission, was introduced to the world in a scientific experiment. John the savage is fascinated by the new environment but grows to hate it after his mother dies. All hell breaks lose and Bernard’s world shatters around him. The United States in the 1920s differs greatly from The Brave New World. The differences between history, individuality, and out side influences vary greatly between the two worlds. The Brave New World revolves around a world party state government, structured upon a strict caste system and set ideas. Because the World States government prevents individuality, science cannot significantly advance unless it is for the whole of society. Scientific advancement forms from a unique idea, where, for better or worse, the world or a person can benefit. The difference is significant, for example, scientific manipulation is only acceptable within the boundaries that it will benefit the society and its people. Where, if one were to conduct experiments for their own satisfaction, the world controllers would, within reason, remove the individual from society to prevent any disturbance thought to be to come from the innovation to some method or idea. Science is only accepted in the presence of the approved notion that it will benefit everyone as a whole. Those removed from society in this way are gathered on an island, where, they may experiment, outside society. So, in this way, Brave New World cannot expand its sophisticated reach to better and further advancements in the future. In the 1920s, the United States was a free time of change, sorrow, and advancement. The Roaring 20’s (1920s) was a time where anyone could be what they wanted to be, to be an individual. Here, where as in Huxley’s novel, you can openly express ideas, within reason, without risk of punishment or unlawful proclamation. Inventions such as the radio and color in television, advanced the young nation to movies like ‘King Kong’ and cellular technology. One could move from rich to poor to poor to rich if they wanted or, had the misfortune of some ill fated circumstance. Regretfully though, such freeness of thought and religion leads to racism and sexism. The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) was still strong and the conclusion of WWI (World War 1) and its after effects has lead to grief and sorrow. The economy fluxed from stable to unstable, and misfortune was easy to fall to. The one thing that The New World lacked was history and so they could not learn or advance from past failures and mistakes. The world powers like Mustaffa Mand withheld the past histories to withhold stability in their world party government. The reason that the government has suppressed all of the histories is because with past accounts and tales come influences and influence again come to the development of ideas. Idealism leads to instability in the world and social revolt against predetermined ways. The world is doomed without history, forever to repeat itself until the next advancement the government forces upon them. In the 1920s the United States was strongly influenced by the history of old and living. The proud history of the United States has led it to become a proud world leader, yet its wars have worn it down. The recently ended war has far damaged the moral of the peoples in the States. The war left many families poor, and the threat of Communism presented an issue. Foreign influences of the past have had unwanted influences on the United States before, so the people were scared of such influences. Outside influences in the Brave New World are little and nonexistent. The only influences outside of society come from the reservations. Bernard is one of the only people subject to such places for his certifications. When he brings Lenina to the reservation it is found that she is horrified by nature and disgusted by the term ‘mother’. Without the proper conditioning of a normal human being it is impossible for the society to adapt. Adaptively is important and is a must for survival. This world only knows what those whom govern it want them to know, which, is a world of soma, sex, and leisure. If some horrific event were to occur, the societies would collapse and ultimately die out. The advantage of history and exposure to the outside world like the United States in the 1920s was that with an outside influence, they were able to adapt to whatever it was. The World War that recently fought, the country, as a whole, was able to adapt to the aftereffects. Cultures from the west influenced clothing and activities in some parts of the country. Influence created trends and fads in the industry. The 1920s had an advantage to having access to all of the above, adaptively and change. The Brave New World and the 1920s of the United States differentiate greatly from each other. I have without a doubt that the US had an advantage over the New World and would be more enjoyable to live in. Adaptively plays the biggest part, where the United Sates can, where the Brave New World couldn’t. This adaptively all comes from history, influence and social structure. The New World is too strict a caste system without history or foreign influences, whereas the US has all of this.The Brave New Worldhttp://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1104.htmlhttp://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1564.html

The findings from the work of West and Sweetings show that the social pressure imposed on women in society has increased from 1987 to 1999, this could be due to the introduction of mass media portraying women in a very feminine and attractive way and puts pressure on the common woman to adapt to that image, along with other pressures which include family life both primary (the family you grow up in) and secondary ( the family you create) and as family life has also evolved too over the years with more needs and expectations, so has the pressures of maintaining it. But there is also educational success of women we have to take into account, as the findings show that as the years pass by and women are given more oppertunities to make themseleves known in society, they become more pressured to work harder to surpass their peers which in turn leads to their future job and maybe impressing a future husband in order to start a family, but that simply adds to the pressure. Finally the findings show that strangely enough the males in society in that time period have not really changed, there is no added pressure and where society has changed, the male role has for the most part stayed the same and therefore the pressure that is added to the women is because their roles –have- changed.

The two notable agents of socialisation that influence how girls learn how to be feminine would be the Family and Mass media. First off the family probably has the most effect on how a girl learns how to be the stereotypical feminine as it is influenced at an early age (however this could be different in modern times with the intergration of visual stimulation young children recieve from technology that could be considered a parent substitute) so it is remember througout their life. Simple things like giving a girl a doll and giving a boy a toy soldier makes it easier for the girl to understand the seperation and differences, thus making the young girl make more of an effort to replicate the differences later in life by becoming more “stereotypical feminine”, the young girl could also imitate feminine behaviour from a mother figure or maybe an older sister, by copying habits and maybe even appearance the young girl would learn the norms of feminism. There there are verbal influences such as referring to the young girl as “little princess” or “pumpkin” note how the majority (if not all) of the verbal referrences to young girls are either fragile, small or glamourous. Maybe this reflects as to how they are to be viewed in society, as a fragile women, of small value and only to be looked at and desired. Simple words have great effects. Then we move on to mass media, the media somewhat carries on the influencing that family life has provided when they outgrow the need for parental approval, and they choose to seek outside advice to broaden their understanding of the feminism they have grown to know from their parent(s). Things such as teen magazines and tv shows normally choose the glamourous approach which promotes teenage girls to “dress to impress” however this is denied by “dressing to feel good” but it is clear that they feel good because they are impressing others. Even music is used to adapt teens to dress feminine, as female popstars are commonly shown in modern and cutting edge fashion, and if the teen listens to their music (which they will if they read the magazine) they will be more succeptable to conform. By this point you wont be surprised when it is stated that even the shows women watch on tv are all feminine to some degree, from childrens tv shows to teenage shows, to “soup oprahs” (which have the theme of “gossip” which is considered a female attribute), and all of these shows are greatly separated from the shows that males watch, they are steered quite far from eachother and for good reason, to keep the roles from intertwining and avoid confusion in the process of influencing (or what I like to call brainwashing).

The dominant values held by todays female generation hold fashion and appearance above all else, it is by far the defining factor that gives “female” a sense of definition. In the older generation females did indeed have a sense of fashion but it did not define them, they were simply seen as housewives and potential “mates”, but in modern times women have mustered a sense of independance that makes them dress simply to make themseleves feel good, rather than attract young men for long term relationships (mostly leading to marriage), for now it is simply to have a short fling or maybe simply to gain attention for self-esteem. The norms for dressing has also changed greatly, back in the older generation it was considered outlandish to reveal skin, but now its considered normal and very appealing, some even go as far as to say “liberating”. Then we have to take into consideration the social norms, in modern times a typical female is very social and tends to keep in regualar contact with males and females alike via direct contact or indirect. However this was quite different back in the old days as women were “seen and not heard”, they were to only converse when finding a husband, then once they had done that they were confined to the house and maybe in some situations they would be able to have conversations with neighbours or other housewives, but very rarely allowed to speak to other men, this would be considered a breach of human rights today, but then it was simply a norm.One value that has been carried through from the older generation to the newer generation that is deteriating is the desire to have a family, now this could be considered more an instinct than a value but it is not uncommon for women to die without having a family, in older generations it was the womans “raison d'etre” to have children and support the husband, but in the modern generation it seems that the value is dying and women have become more independant, and settling down and having a family through desire is becoming less frequent. Now we could argue that the population is still rising more than ever but that would be due to teenage pregnancies and unwanted children, this is not the desire but more the result of sexual fulfilment, and while we are on that point it was taboo for a woman to freely speak of her sexual desire to anyone other than her husband and even then it was somwhat awkward and mostly shrugged off, but nowdays it is so unbelieveably common that its practically broadcasted for everyone to hear on tv programmes, magazines and even on social networking sites. Seems as though the privacy of a womans life has been broken down but this has allowed for more self-liberation from the old stereotype.....but has created a new stereotype in its wake.In short the differences between old and new generations of women are vast, but some values are still kept but are hidden within variations of the old value, to the point it feels as though nothing has changed, the general idea of woman being inferior and simply an object to be obtained seems unflinched and the agents of socialisation only seem to promote this. Somes things in life simply dont change.

My family and I were sitting near the back of the waiting area, anxiously waiting for the departure time. My youngest brother was catching up on his sleep, his head resting on mom’s shoulder. The second eldest was busy fiddling away with the camera and shooting anything that caught his interest. I sat two seats away, detached from the others, quietly observing the world around me. A wide stretch of clear glass spanned the wall a few yards away from us with the first light of dawn, which was just barely shining through, getting drowned out by the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights above us. On the other side of the glass I could see those small rolling stairways, the small car that carried all the passengers’ luggage, orange-vested people wielding glowing, miniaturized traffic cones in each hand, and, at the end of the runway, a massive, looming plane. The whole area around us was painted in dull shades of grey, black, and off-white which made the area feel even more closed off and cold. There was a sense of urgency, anxiety and anticipation in the air, and the people around me took notice of that. Everywhere I looked, I could see people rushing about. Sleep-deprived businessmen were racing about, trying to meet their deadline. Newly-married couples eagerly anticipated their honeymoon while long-time couples were fighting over who left the luggage where. Countless families and groups of friends were coming home, going to visit a relative or just having a vacation. All of the people in that airport moved as if they were on a constant sugar rush. Yet somehow, strangely, underneath all the frantic and manic energy, I could feel a slight stillness in the air. It was if a dark, foreboding cloud had pervaded the area and anyone who was unlucky enough to be caught within it was stilled. I thought it was all in my imagination, but as I sat and watched, in my hard airport standard seat, I noticed that the world around me had been faintly muted. Everybody was speaking in a hushed tone and they were treading lightly as though they were in a funeral home. It was somehow a fitting end to the life I was about to leave behind.

As I looked at the families and groups of friends passing by me, each one showing different emotions and carrying different thoughts, I thought to myself, where were they going? What were they leaving behind? Was it necessary for them to leave? Were they leaving for good reasons or bad ones? Did they make the right choice in going? Will they miss their friends and family? Will their friends and family miss them? ...

Will MY friends miss me?

It was strange for me to be asking myself these questions. After all, I had already resigned myself to the cold truth of life: Nothing is permanent in this world… not even friendships. Given enough time, even the closest of friends will become complete strangers to one another. It was a truth that I had learned through many difficulties, and because of that I held on to that belief even up to the point where me and my friends said our goodbyes and promised never to forget each other. I thought that those were just empty promises, they were just words that one would just string together to make a generic statement. I never thought that those words actually meant anything. I planned to keep believing in that from then onwards, so that I wouldn’t be burdened by the pains of nostalgia. I looked around the area and my eyes landed on a group of friends sitting at a table across from me. To the casual viewer, they would have seemed to be just like any other group of young people. They were eating together, sharing stories, and laughing at each other’s jokes. They were the typical ‘barkada’ – a term we used to describe a small group of friends – and a person that has “learned the truth” would have thought that they would grow apart like any other group of teens. But as I watched them having fun and delighting in each other’s company I felt that there was something deeper about the friendship they shared. What they had was something deeper and more profound than an average friendship. It was a bond that was formed through the intertwining of their lives and, subsequently, their hardships. They were a family. It was a feeling I was all too familiar with, and I soon found myself imagining that I was in that circle, sharing jokes and laughing with my friends, and feeling the warmth and safety of being with my family. My heart yearned to experience that again, and it soon conjured up the happiest memory I shared with my friends – The Road Trip.

“YEEAAHH!!!”, “WOOHOO!!”, “YOU GUYS ROCK!”, “ENCORE! ENCORE!” The sound of the audience’s cheering was intoxicating. Their cheers were echoing in my head and were resonating within me. Their energy was slowly building up inside me and eventually bursting out, sending me into a state of pure euphoria. The beat of my heart was pounding in time with my band and the pounding of the crowd’s footsteps. The music was moving our bodies and shaking us to our very soul. The colored lights were swiftly dancing around us as if trying to share in the jubilation. The spotlight shining on me felt like a mother’s warm embrace – encouraging, supportive, and familiar. It was if nothing else existed, it was just us and the audience giving our all and raising each other up. This moment is why singers sing, bands play and actors perform – a small period of pure bliss when the audience is cheering, at the top of their lungs, your name or the name of your band. All our months of hard work and preparation went into this one, glorious moment. This was the affirmation of all of our talent, skill and determination. Although we didn’t win, we were driven to give it our all and to put on the best show we had ever done – and we did. At the end of our performance I looked at the faces of my friends, they were all brimming with love, happiness and immense pride, and we shared a silent oath to each other. We will never grow apart as long as this memory existed in our hearts.

I looked away, wiping away a tear from my eye, from the table of friends. I had almost forgotten that promise we made. As I looked around again, I noticed the heavy stillness had lifted. The world was now more vibrant and the people around me were now more energetic and cheerier. The dark cloud was gone and what replaced it was a positive feeling in the area. I began to feel guilty for doubting my friendship with them, but as I watched the sun rise over the horizon I knew that they would forgive me in a heartbeat. And as I looked at the rolling staircase latch onto the plane, I knew that my friends would want me to get the best that I can out of my new life.

******

The theme that was assigned to the class for this essay was "10 second flashback." So yeah, since I couldn't think of any other point in my life where I actually has a flashback, I wrote this.

Justin Burgess Interracial marriage is a widely controversial issue throughout the world, it has been given many married, or to be married couple much grief. The problems stem from three different poles, from acceptance in the local community, cultural differences, and racism. All of these themes and causes were factors in the Shakespearean play, Othello, and were main contributors in Othello’s death. Acceptance in a community general dictates how you are seen and what you do within that community. Interestingly enough, in the case of OJ Simpson, he was accepted by both white man and black men but under different circumstances. The white man supported OJ when he married but the black men only supported him after the murder. The support of his fellow men directly influenced his overall marriage. He was conscious of the problem and was very defensive about the marriage. It’s speculated that the hate that plagued the interracial marriage caused OJ to kill his wife and ultimately escape the endless hatred. In the Shakespearean Othello, although it was not directly stated, it was obvious that in Act 1, Othello was not welcome in Venice. The fact that Desdemona’s father was so aghast about the marriage proposal shows how serious the situation was. Later in the play, it is shown stated that Desdemona’s father, Brabanchio had killed himself, and therefore, the ultimate unacceptance. It can be argued, just as in OJ’s case, Othello was pressured into his jealousy by both Iago and the people. Essentially, when an interracial marriage occurs, you often marry into different cultures, and with this, a whole bundle of issues. For example; the culture is very different sometimes, like in the Shakespearean Othello when Othello married Desdemona. Desdemona was raised in Venice in the rich parts of town where life is easy and not to hard whereas Othello was raised in northern Africa where he was succumbed to warring nations and slavery. The religions are not the same, whereas the Venetian’s had one god, Othello’s culture had multiple gods to worship. In interracial marriage, if one were to have a baby there is the added strain of which of the two cultures to teach and raise the child. Or even teach it a completely new culture (if the baby is raised in a different country). This concept of this strain often causes many divorces and ruts in relationships. Othello fell victim to cultural differences when he was explaining the significance of the handkerchief to Desdemona. The handkerchief, coming from an Egyptian background, held great cultural significance. Because of the fact that Desdemona had lost the handkerchief, she had lost his favor due to the legend attached to it. It was the lost handkerchief with its cultural meaning that ultimately ended and destroyed the relationship and their marriage. It lead to the ultimate distrust and the plans to kill Cassio. Racism reigns above all else in interracial marriages and is the leading cause of all problems in the marriage itself. When a black man and a white woman married each other, the marriage cannot be seen as a couple whose in love marring each other. Instead, it is seen as a black man and a white women marring each other. Why? It’s because of our upbringing and the history of slavery. Because of slavery racism came to be because those slaves were seen as lesser then them so it was just another way of demeaning them. Racism now days are primarily because of a distant feeling of fear of another man or because that man is better or lesser then a you and is of another race. The reason racism occurs in in a marriage is because of the, when married, those whom had wanted to marry the person feel resentment and sometimes hatred and so resort to racism to demeanor and beat down the person in question in hopes of breaking the relationship. This is shown in Othello when Othello marries Desdemona. Roderigo was so obsessed with Desdemona that he hated Othello. His hatred and racism as well as Brabanchios’s were meant to discredit Othello so he could not marry Desdemona, but in the end of Act 1 it is seen that it had the opposite effect. It in fact supported and proved his love for Desdemona even further and Ultimately won over the council in which the issue was addressed. Later in the play, Iago used Roderigo’s lust and hatred to a plot against Cassio and Othello but this too proved futile. Although it is not directly supported, I strongly believe that Othellos death was effected by the racism and hatred towards him and thusly contributes to his death throughout the entirety of the Shakespearean play. Interracial marriages can work and sometime they don’t work. If they don’t work it is often because of the fact that there are so many issues to deal with,. Whether it be because of culture or community acceptances these problems exist. Don’t forget about racism either, the bigger role player in the destruction of interracial marriages. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-10-08/news/1995281078_1_interracial-marriages-interracial-couples-interracial-relationshipsPoints~ OJ was supported by both white men and black men alike. The black community abandoned him in the marriage and the white men supported. After the murder the blackmen supported him and the white men did not.http://marriage.about.com/od/interracial/a/interracialchal.htmExpectations are differentHolidays are differentChildren grow up differentInterracial un acceptanceCultural differences

I totally pulled this out of my ass because its due in like 25 minutes